TRIAL

If you are facing criminal charges, the most important decision you will make is who you hire to represent you.  Laura Popps is a board-certified criminal defense attorney who has been practicing law for over 25 years. She is highly regarded within the legal community for her strong legal skills, meticulous preparation, and fierce advocacy. Laura will meet with you one on one to discuss your concerns and to ensure you understand each step of the process so you can make the best possible decisions in your case.

Laura spent ten years as a senior felony prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, where she was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit. Laura was part of a select team that traveled the state assisting local district attorneys who needed help with complex and high-profile cases ranging from death penalty cases to white collar offenses. As a result of her intense preparation and hard work, Laura never lost a case during her time as a prosecutor. 

APPEALS AND POST-CONVICTION

Criminal appeals require someone with substantial knowledge of criminal law, an understanding of how appellate courts operate, and exceptional legal research and writing skills. Post-conviction work is a highly specialized and complex area of criminal law, and few criminal law practitioners undertake the demands of this type of work. Unlike direct appeals, post-conviction work frequently requires a complete re-investigation of the facts to determine whether a defendant’s rights were adequately protected at trial. It also requires a deep understanding of federal constitutional law and its application to criminal trials.

Laura has extensive criminal appellate and post-conviction experience. Her first year out of law school, she served as a Briefing Attorney for the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. She spent the next four years handling nothing but federal habeas death penalty litigation, a complex and hotly litigated area of the law. This experience provided a deep understanding of federal constitutional law and its application within the habeas context. As a felony prosecutor, Laura handled all of her own criminal appeals in cases involving offenses such as sexual assault, murder, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, capital murder and many others. In private practice, Laura has handled numerous criminal appeals on the defense side.

What sets Laura apart?

• Board Certified in Criminal Law: Laura is Board Certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by less than 8% of all Texas attorneys. Board certification requires extensive experience and knowledge of criminal law and procedure.

• Former Prosecutor: A former state-wide prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Laura gained invaluable insight into the inner workings of law enforcement agencies and district attorney’s offices throughout the state. She knows how cases are built from the ground up, how prosecutors think when preparing for trial or negotiating a plea agreement, and how best to exploit the weaknesses in a case.

• Forensic Psychology: In 2019, Laura further expanded her skills by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, in order to better understand the complicated and often overlooked scientific research that can play a critical role in successfully trying criminal cases. She became well-versed in research pertaining to false confessions, eyewitness identification errors, juror decision-making, psychological defenses, false memories, and juror dynamics in sexual assault cases.

Whether you are facing criminal charges, or have already been convicted and want to pursue an appeal or post-conviction relief, contact Laura to discuss your best options going forward. Book an initial consultation today.